6 replies to this topic

[ben1982]

Hi, complete noob here. Have zero confidence with mechanics but heater valve was leaking and was informed it should be an easy fix. Which I’m sure it is, but me and diy have never met eye to eye!

Car is a 72 clubman.

So, bought a heater valve with a gasket. Took off old heater valve, scraped off most of the old gasket which was stuck to the engine. New gasket on, new heater valve on.

Now at some point in this process, a load of coolant made its way onto the driver footwell. Worked it out when I was hoovering to spruce the car up after my heroic fix.

Then I realised that the heater valve was spewing more hot coolant from the bottom of it (coming out the sides of the gasket).

Long and short of it is I’ve tightened everything, but car isn’t happy. More leakage in footwell and more spewing from valve. A good mechanic friend could fix it - he’s due to have the car in 10 days anyhow, but car is getting very hot on temp dial now so want to try and do it myself as a) I don’t want it overheating on me on way to workshop, and b) I want my first technical job to be a win

Any suggestions? I’m kinda hoping I’ve just got a dodgy valve (it was bought off ebay....), but I’m still intrigued as to how I saturated my carpet.....

Thank you in advance!

[ben1982]

Hi, complete noob here. Have zero confidence with mechanics but heater valve was leaking and was informed it should be an easy fix. Which I’m sure it is, but me and diy have never met eye to eye!

Car is a 72 clubman.

So, bought a heater valve with a gasket. Took off old heater valve, scraped off most of the old gasket which was stuck to the engine. New gasket on, new heater valve on.

Now at some point in this process, a load of coolant made its way onto the driver footwell. Worked it out when I was hoovering to spruce the car up after my heroic fix.

Then I realised that the heater valve was spewing more hot coolant from the bottom of it (coming out the sides of the gasket).

Long and short of it is I’ve tightened everything, but car isn’t happy. More leakage in footwell and more spewing from valve. A good mechanic friend could fix it - he’s due to have the car in 10 days anyhow, but car is getting very hot on temp dial now so want to try and do it myself as a) I don’t want it overheating on me on way to workshop, and b) I want my first technical job to be a win

Any suggestions? I’m kinda hoping I’ve just got a dodgy valve (it was bought off ebay....), but I’m still intrigued as to how I saturated my carpet.....

Thank you in advance!

[Ben_O]

Dodgy valves were a thing at one point.
If coolant is coming out of the body of the valve, its dud.

As for coolant on the carpets inside, I would be checking the connection of the hose to the heater matrix for leaks.
If there isn't too much water, I guess it could be flowing from the bad valve, running down the outside of the hose, through the bulkhead and into the footwell....

Either way there is a leak and you need to inspect all hoses as we as the matrix for issues

Cheers.
Ben

[Ethel]

Take the valve off and put it on without the gasket so you can have a close look to see how flat the mating surfaces are. You may find  scraping an edge or chamfering a hole is all that's needed, or some non setting instant gasket helps. There can be some dodgy valves about, but they usually fail where the operating rod is. It could be fitting the valve has improved the flow & unclogged a leak elsewhere. The heater matrix or a hose connection.

 

If you need a temporary fix just plug, or join, the ends of the hoses.

[sonikk4]

Leaks in the footwell?? this could be multiple things from damaged door seals, blocked drain holes in your doors, rust holes in the footwell, rust in the inner sills, rust around the fresh air vents, damaged checked strap seal, if you are loosing coolant then the heater matrix could be damaged or the pipe connections to the matrix in the car.

 

Damaged windscreen seal, the list goes on.

 

As for the heater valve, was the original knackered?? if not keep it and refit it. The replacement ones out there are shocking and will fail.

[ben1982]

Thanks all. Footwell puddle definitely linked to valve replacement - was dry in the 20mins before replacement so I’ll check all hoses. Also, yep, will make the surface super flat to see if that’ll do it! Thanks all!

[mab01uk]

Chuck the replacement heater valve (where did you buy it?) and buy a good quality one from Minispares, beware there are a lot of rubbish quality copy parts for Minis not made to any quality standards, imported and sold cheap on ebay.

 

Genuine Mini Spares heater valve. The original RANCO tooling has been scrappped so beware of some imports available where the inners quickly explode loosing the metal cap and all your water when operated.This has M4 metric thread bolt included for the cable screw instead of the 11/31"unc thread original:-

http://www.minispare...ASAAEgKFSPD_BwE

Edited by mab01uk, 01 May 2021 - 06:14 PM.